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Suielman Military

THIS IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS

Military of the Suielman Empire:

The Suielman Empire maintained a large, well disciplined professional army. The professional nature of the army saved the empire time after time and allowed it conquer and hold such a huge area. Many units in Sathmore and Pyralis still proudly claim heritage to various Suielman units.

The early empire army was split into 2 parts;Reguliri (Regular): These were the heavy infantry that were the core of the Suielman army. Always made up of citizens of the empire.

Auxilia (Auxiliary) : The Reguliri were supplemented by a wide variety of units collectively called Auxilia. These could include archers, cavalry, Scouts, light infantry (skirmishers), engineers, siege artillery and anything else that just weren't heavy infantry. Initially only made up of non-empire citizens who gained citizenship after 20 years service. Later that non-citizenship requirement was dropped. No matter how large an Auxilia unit was it was never allowed to bear the title Legion. That was a title for a Reguliri unit only.

Middle Era Army:

The differences in quality between the Reguliri and the Auxilia faded and later both contained a large number of citizens. Later the names meant little as both were made up of citizens. And both types of units were treated (and paid) the same.

A legion usually had a number of Auxilia units attached or assigned to it at all times. Often in equal numbers! Some Legions and Auxilia cohorts/regiments are known to have been together for centuries and were effectively one unit. This was the Suielman army at it's finest. Capable of fielding a large, highly trained and disciplined force with a mix of infantry, cavalry and missiles.

Late Empire Army

Even at this point the Suielman army was still a formidable fighting force and they remain the standard to which all other military units are compared. Unfortunately few if any legions were at their full strength. Most were at half or even less. A legions full compliment was supposed to be around 4,200 but most were at around 1,000. Only 4 were known to have been above 2,500. During the Midlands invasion the scattered units became core of the attempts to stop the invaders. As an example: The 39th Legion was barely 1.200 strong but it became the heart of the 4,000 defending the city of Llarth. The city withstood a 2 year long siege before the Lutins lost interest and left.

With the solidifying of the empire borders many legions were stationed in the same region for centuries and became tied to it. (The 12th Vicitrix is known to have been at Metamor Valley for 400 years). In the later empire this lead to the army being split into two groups.

Limitani: (Limited - literally tied to the land.) A legion that was deployed to one location and not moved from it. These units could only be redeployed elsewhere with great difficultly if not impossible to move. This is (correctly) seen as the first sign of the fracturing of the empire into smaller political and social groups. This lead to the creation of the second part.

Comitati - commonly called a Field army. These units (still named and numbered as legions) were a mobile force and could be moved about as needed. Usually faster and a lot more mobile. These units got the best equipment and recruits.

Organization:

The units were divided into units called Legions which usually had a number and a name. Many had long histories. The exact # of legions the empire had is still unknown but is estimated to be at least 200. The exact number tended to change over the years with peace time seeing a smaller number and war many more.

_Contubernium: A squad of 8 men.Century: 10 Contubernium for a total of 80 menManiple: 2 Centuries for a total of 160 menCohort: 3 Maniples for a total 480 menLegion: 10 or 12 Cohorts of infantry and 2 squadron of 126 cavalry each.Legioralo: 4 or 6 Cohorts. The title means half legion. It was a later invention and usually consisted of a mix of different types of cohorts - infantry, archers and the like. A more modern version would be called a regiment or a task force. It was an ad-hock organization usually only put together for a short term or a specific mission not needing an entire legion.

Known Legions are:3rd (Gallecia) Legion: Emblem: A bear rearing on hind legs protecting a cub. One of the oldest surviving legions. Stationed in what is now Tullwine in +150CR. The legion was heavily involved in the intense and desperate fighting to stop the Invasion of the Midlands. Suffered extremely heavy casualties but were key in beating off the invasion. A measure of the casualties is one stark fact. The legion had 4,250 men in 149 (It was one of the few legions at close to full strength). A roster from cr151 reported only 112 of those original legionnaires still alive. Unit was rebuilt and still is an honored part of the Sathmore Empire and was renamed the Grizzly Bears in honor of their fighting skills. They still proudly use the original Suielman standard - thought to be almost a thousand years old!

12th (Victrix): Emblem: A Gold Laurel Wreath with gold Pegasus above. First Raised in -835 CR in Pyralis. Most well known for having been stationed in or near Metamor valley in +150 cr. Was wiped out in the Lutin Invasion.

23rd Alaundae: Emblem: a gold scorpion over two crossed lightning bolts. Known for having been stationed in or near Metamor valley in +150 cr. Was wiped out in the Lutin Invasion.

39th Hisania: Emblem: A White bull facing to the right with 2 gold stars below and 3 above the bull. All on a red background. First Raised: ?. In CR 150+ the legion was barely 1.200 strong when the Midlands Invasion occurred. The unit became the heart of the 4,000 defending the city of Llarth. The other 2,800 were farmers, tradesman and slaves hastily raised into a militia. It was the Legate who ordered the digging of a ditch and the repair of the decrepit 400 year old city wall. Both were instrumental in helping defend the city. The city withstood a 2 year long siege before the Lutins finally lost interest and left. The legions Standard is still proudly carried by city's army whenever it goes into battle.

45th (Elvmaeni - Literally Elf Guard): Emblem: A Gold lightning bolt splitting a green bow above a horizontal, silver spear. Raised in -544CR in Pintia in the wake of the The Human-Elf War. Specifically meant to guard/watch the elves. Believed wiped out in 151 during Lutin invasion but survivors withdrew to the south in good order. In 228 when Prince Ovid reclaimed the area the elves gave him the legions Standards which they had taken from the rampaging Lutins. They now rest in a place of honor in Marigund City.

65th (Ultania) Legion: Emblem: three elephants 2 flanking the shield boss and 1 below it. A gold laurel wreath surrounding them all. Raised ? Unit was stationed for a long time (300 years) on the southern continent. Disposition unknown. Stopped responding to orders in 135 CR. Believed to have simply gone native but the exact details remain unknown.

71st Legion: Emblem: A White star burst edged in gold in the center with a silver lightning bolt (horizontally) below. All on a red background. Raised: ?. Last known to have been stationed in what is now Giftum in CR150+. This unit made an epic march across the Northern Midlands in CR150+ to help defend the valley. They arrived too late. They were just south of whats now Midtown when they found themselves facing 100 times their number of invaders. With retreat impossible they closed ranks and fought to the bitter end. Believed to have held up the invasion for an entire day. As important was the warnings they send out in all directions that gave many people valuable time to flee or prepare for the assault. When Prince Ovid's forces moved into the area to reclaim it they found the lutins themselves had raised a large wooden column in memory of the legionnaires who had 'Fought like Wolverines'.

95th (Maractan): Emblem Gold Laurel wreath with a snarling wolf head below on a red background. Was raised in Metamor valley in -445 CR and served it's full time there. Known to have been involved in at least 14 (major) campaigns in the Giantdowns over the centuries. Was wiped out in the Lutin Invasion in +150CR.

Unknown Unit: In Kelewair recently (+704 CR) farmers digging in a field uncovered a Suielman standard. Probably deliberately buried in +150 CR to prevent it's capture by the Lutins. The emblem has a white spear horizontally through the shield boss. Above that is a white bull and below it is a galley (ship) with a full sail and oars also in white and on a red background. In 1066 the rebuilding of a tower in Kelewair will uncover a large carved stone block reused as a foundation stone. With considerable effort it will be extracted. It will prove to be part of a monument bearing the emblem. Naming the legion as the 73rd (Canabaria) Legion. It will end the 300+ year long debate but start another. As there is little other information on that Legion. They are not even sure where Canabaria was.

Auxilia Units14th Sagittaria: Unit emblem: A rearing Centaur using a bow. An Auxiliia unit raised around -679 CR in whats now the eastern Pyralian kingdoms. A unit of mounted archers. Exact disposition unknown. Last reported in CR 112 on the coast of the southern continent in the town of Arlqibis.

23rd (Artinea) Exploritium: Emblem: A Gold greyhound running on the bottom half of the shield with a white crescent moon on top. An Auxilia unit raised in -445 CR in Metamor Valley (Then called Maractania) at the same time as the 95th Maractan. The two units served together in the valley till being wiped out in +150 CR in the last invasion. Scouts/light infantry.

4th Equitaire (Kentauri): Emblem: A Centaur charging with a leveled lance. An odd unit - a mix of cavalry and infantry that is trained to work together. A later generation will call the idea Combined arms. Raised: ?. Known to have been in Metamor valley in CR 150. Believed wiped out in the Lutin invasion that year.

9th (Kkarrti) Peditati (literally those who walk - infantry.): Raised: ? Emblem: A red sphinx on a gold background. Raised in Kkarrt. A unit of light infantry using javelins and hand axes.

174th Daramanti: Emblem: ? . Raised: (circa -420). Believed to have been an infantry unit of Lutins that served the empire for several centuries.
More a legend than a confirmed fact. The legend of this units existence is VERY strong among the Sharp Blade lutin tribe who claim to have ancestors who served in it. The truth of the legends is difficult to confirm but it sounds feasible. It will in later centuries be the subject of several books, at least 1 movie and a surprisingly long running TV series. Based off the movie.

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Legion naming: Legions (and auxilia units as well) were named using a consistent pattern. First comes a number (unique to that unit) and then a name which is generally unique. The name can be descriptive, tell of where the unit was raised (that was the usual. For Example 95th (Maractan) was raised in Maractania) or some honorific. Like Victrix (Victory) honoring the 12th's help in winning a key battle. For Auxilia there will follow a descriptor telling of what the unit is. Sagittaria - archers, Exploritium - scouts, etc … ).

Army Ranking System
A lot of information on the military is fragmentary and some of the exact meaning and responsibilities of many ranks is unknown or confused. How that ranking was displayed is also poorly known.

NCOTiro: Recruit. Anyone with less then 6 months of service. No visible rank insignia.Milos: also Milos Gregarius - Regular Soldier. No visible rank insignia.Veternai: Veteran more often called a Blooded. An older, experienced soldier. Rank insignia - a Leather sash across the chest with one brass disk on it.Decanus: Leader of an 8 or 10 man squad - Squad leader. Equal to a sergeant. Rank insignia - a Leather sash across the chest with two brass disks on it.Optio Sesquipili: Receives double pay equal to a staff sergeant. Rank insignia - a Leather sash across the chest with three brass disks on it. The armor was edged in silverOptio Secundi: Equal to a Sergeant First classOptio Centuriae: Highest Ranking Optio. Usually works directly with the Centurion.Centurion: Commands 100 men. Equal to a Sergeant Major, Single highest ranking NCO.

OfficersPrincipalis: A low ranking Officer equal to a lieutenantDuplicarius: Receives Double the pay. Equal to a Captain.Tribune Arturis: Junior Tribune. Equal to a MajorTribune Praefectus: Equal to a ColonelTribune Semestrae: Equal to a 1 star general. Second in command of a legion.Legate: -Highest normal ranking officer - Equal to General and commands a legion.

These titles could be stacked with others. For example Veternai Immunis Explori was a veteran, Scout exempted from guard and fatigue duties. Equitari Duplicarius is an officer in the cavalry.

Equipment:Legonituri: heavy infantry. (Literally heavy legionnaire) Armor: Scale mail early on but supplanted by (but never fully replaced by) Chain mail armor, large shield. Sword and 2 javelins. These were the heart of the army and were well trained and highly disciplined.

Auxilia: The empire used a wide variety of weapons and there was a unit at one time or another with almost every weapon. An incomplete list of weapons and unit types includes: Slings, Bows (long, short, composite, crossbow), spears, pikes, javelins. They are known to have had cavalry using horses (Light, medium, heavy. Lancers, skirmishers, mounted archers), camels, elephants, gryphons, hippogriffs and wyverns. Also rumor and legend speaks of a unit of dragon cavalry but that is believed to just be a fairy tale.

Sagittaria: Archer. Either no armor or light (leather or scale) and bow either Long, short. composite or crossbow.Peditati: literally those who walk - infantry.

Camp Dress: Legionaries did not go around wearing armor all the time (regardless of what Hollywood wants us to think). Armor was only worn when training, on patrol or guard duty or (of course) going into combat. A Late Empire soldier had a distinct uniform that consisted of full length pants (or breeches), a tunic, boots or shoes (no sandals) and a leather belt. Over that was a cloak (Called a sagum) usually of wool and generally not dyed. This meant that the natural oils in the wood made if fairly waterproof. Worn at all times was a sword. Even off duty a soldier prominently wore a sword as a symbol of his being in the military. The man's hair was to be cut short (like a modern military haircut). Beards were allowed but had to be neat and trimmed short. Jewelry was usually limited to a ring or two and a pendant.

Navy

The navy was divided into a number of Classuis (Suielman for Fleet. The literal translation is 'A large number of boats').

It was divided into a 2 basic groups:

Classiusal Principia: The regular fleetClassiusal Auxilia: The provincial fleet. Equal to the Limitani and Auxilia in the army.

Marines: Also assigned to the fleets were several units of marines. Men trained and equipped to fight on ships. Their exact number and composition tended to change over the years. Equipment: Usually leather armor, pilum, bows, swords and axes.

Known Fleets:Classuis Misenensis - Fleet of MisensenClassuis Argentuia: Controlled what is now the southern Great Western Sea., Home port was in what is now Isenport.Classuis Sekium:Classuis Ardaonus: - Home port was in Ardaoni. But exactly where Ardaoni is remains unknown.Classuis Seranti:- Controlled what is now the Northern part of the Sea of Stars. Home port was supposedly in the now lost (or mythical) city of Ceasarath. But more likely to have been either of the two modern cities of Sorin or Menth.Classuis Lanvius: Controlled what is now the Northern part of the Great Western Sea. Home port was in Elvquelin.

Little more is known about the navy at this time. What little is known comes from a document called the Aquai Porutansi dated around -24 CR. It lists the various fleets but is frustratingly incomplete in some details. For instance it lists in details the exact size of the fleet based at Ardaoni. But it fails to say where Ardaoni was, leaving scholars guessing since that name went out of use centuries ago.

The Vigilis
Technically not in the military but included here for simplicity. The Vigilis are the Suielman version of the city watch. A combination of police and fire department.

Equipment: Usually the Vigilis only wore light armor (leather armor) and carried a sword. They did have a full set of armor and weapons including (usually) chain mail, shield and pilum to be used in an emergency. They also used axes, hooks and buckets to help fight fires.

Vigilis Argunta Comandio: The main headquarters of the city's Vigilis. Usually a good sized fortress.

Patorious Arvuli - Imperial Guard
In spite of the fancy name this was a group of well equipped Bodyguards. This unit was always around the emperor. Well paid and with many privileges the men in this unit are chosen for their loyalty to the emperor and little else. In later years the Guard realized that besides protecting the emperor they could CHOOSE one. This lead to the shameful incident of the Legate of the Guard auctioning off the Imperial throne. He really shouldn't have been surprised when the new emperor's first decree was to order the guard disbanded and the Legate executed.